Many claimants from Congress to contest Betul

Bhopal, Dec 28: With the success of Khargone and Sanwer by-elections, many claimants have come forth for trying their luck in Betul Lok Sabha constituency, which would be the last by-election before assembly elections. The names which are in the fray from Congress are- former union minister Aslem Sher Khan who has been Member of Parliament twice from Betul, Gufran-e-Azam who represented the constituency once (Both hail from Bhopal), former MLA from betul Vinod Daga, ex-minister Ashok Sawale and NSUI state President Hemant Wagdre (all from Betul).

However, the most discussed name is of Nakul, son of Union minister Kamal Nath, who is at present in Chhindwara and looking after family business. Nath supporters claim that Nath’s towering personality could become contributing figure in Betul after victory of state Congress president Subhash Yadav’s son Arun in Khargone. After its victory in Sidhi, Shivpuri, Khargone and Sanwer by-elections, the Congress is willing to continue this momentum of victory in Madhya Pradesh before the assembly elections take place in November 2008. The party has already started sensing the nerves of voters in the constituency and observers will soon be appointed in al the eight assembly segments.

Since, Congress has resurged in the by-elections, the party workers believe that wining Betul election would not be difficult. As ruling BJP is considering name of Hemant Khandelwal, son of late Vijay Khandelwal, political leaders’ sons are likely to be in the fray. However, Congress workers are of the opinion that political leaders fielding their family members, is not a good trend. They alleged that they would not allow this trend to continue. “If this trend continues, we would strongly protest this ideology,” they alleged. A senior party worker went to the extent of threatening for agitation if Nath’s son is fielded after Subhash Yadav’s son.